To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's consultation on Permitted development rights, which closed on 25 September 2023, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of extending permitted development rights in (a) national parks and (b) other...

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's consultation on Permitted development rights, which closed on 25 September 2023, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of extending permitted development rights in (a) national parks and (b) other...

My Lords, I also thank the Minister for his introductory comments. Amendments 1 and 2 on chalk streams are to be welcomed and I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Trenchard, for his work on this and for pursuing it to make absolutely certain that the Government saw its importance. I...

My Lords, I also thank the Minister for his introductory comments. Amendments 1 and 2 on chalk streams are to be welcomed and I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Trenchard, for his work on this and for pursuing it to make absolutely certain that the Government saw its importance. I...

My Lords, before the debate concludes, I speak briefly on behalf of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Bristol to record thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, for all the constructive work that is represented in this Bill and to assure the noble Baroness—

My Lords, before the debate concludes, I speak briefly on behalf of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Bristol to record thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, for all the constructive work that is represented in this Bill and to assure the noble Baroness—

My Lords, may I say on behalf of the whole House that my noble friend Lord Howe has also borne some of the burden of getting the Bill through? No one can say “No” more politely than my noble friend, as he has had to do to a large number...

My Lords, may I say on behalf of the whole House that my noble friend Lord Howe has also borne some of the burden of getting the Bill through? No one can say “No” more politely than my noble friend, as he has had to do to a large number...

My Lords, I apologise for my misplaced enthusiasm in wanting to add to these thanks. I shall speak briefly on behalf of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Bristol to record her thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, for all the constructive work that is represented...

My Lords, I apologise for my misplaced enthusiasm in wanting to add to these thanks. I shall speak briefly on behalf of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Bristol to record her thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, for all the constructive work that is represented...

My Lords, I am happy to take part in this debate simply because it is the last debate on the Bill in this House, at least until after the Conference Recess: we have had 16 days in Committee, eight days on Report and more than 1,000 amendments, skilfully disguised by...

My Lords, I am happy to take part in this debate simply because it is the last debate on the Bill in this House, at least until after the Conference Recess: we have had 16 days in Committee, eight days on Report and more than 1,000 amendments, skilfully disguised by...

Moved by

Earl Howe

Moved by

Earl Howe

My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to acquaint the House that they, having been informed of the purport of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, have consented to place their interests, so far as they are affected...

My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to acquaint the House that they, having been informed of the purport of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, have consented to place their interests, so far as they are affected...

My Lords, before we begin Third Reading, I will make a statement on legislative consent. A small number of the provisions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill apply to England and Wales, and a number also apply to Scotland and/or Northern Ireland. There are, as a consequence, provisions in the...

My Lords, before we begin Third Reading, I will make a statement on legislative consent. A small number of the provisions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill apply to England and Wales, and a number also apply to Scotland and/or Northern Ireland. There are, as a consequence, provisions in the...

Moved by

Earl Howe

1: Clause 157, page 183, line 14, at end insert “(including, amongst other things, the protection of chalk streams from abstraction and pollution)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment fulfils an undertaking made at Report stage and clarifies that the definition of “environmental protection” includes the protection of chalk streams from...

Moved by

Earl Howe

1: Clause 157, page 183, line 14, at end insert “(including, amongst other things, the protection of chalk streams from abstraction and pollution)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment fulfils an undertaking made at Report stage and clarifies that the definition of “environmental protection” includes the protection of chalk streams from...

My Lords, I will also speak to the other amendments in the name of my noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook. On Report, my noble friend Lord Trenchard tabled an amendment on chalk streams that highlighted their special status and the passion across the House for protecting these habitats further....

My Lords, I will also speak to the other amendments in the name of my noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook. On Report, my noble friend Lord Trenchard tabled an amendment on chalk streams that highlighted their special status and the passion across the House for protecting these habitats further....

My Lords, first, I ask my noble friend to send our best wishes to our noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook. Secondly, I thank him very much for honouring the commitment made by the noble Lord, Lord Benyon, with regard to Amendments 1 and 2 on chalk streams, on behalf...

My Lords, first, I ask my noble friend to send our best wishes to our noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook. Secondly, I thank him very much for honouring the commitment made by the noble Lord, Lord Benyon, with regard to Amendments 1 and 2 on chalk streams, on behalf...

My Lords, I want to thank the Government and in particular my noble friend Lord Howe, the Minister. It is an interesting symmetry that he is the one proposing the amendment on areas of outstanding natural beauty in national parks, as my forebears came from the Chilterns—although I have a...

My Lords, I want to thank the Government and in particular my noble friend Lord Howe, the Minister. It is an interesting symmetry that he is the one proposing the amendment on areas of outstanding natural beauty in national parks, as my forebears came from the Chilterns—although I have a...

My Lords, first, I remind noble Lords of my interest in the South Downs National Park. I add my welcome to that of the noble Lord, Lord Randall, for government Amendment 9, which fulfils the commitment that was made on Report to take the rather weak phraseology of public bodies...

My Lords, first, I remind noble Lords of my interest in the South Downs National Park. I add my welcome to that of the noble Lord, Lord Randall, for government Amendment 9, which fulfils the commitment that was made on Report to take the rather weak phraseology of public bodies...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords for their welcome for these amendments. I note the comments of the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Whitchurch, in particular. On the specific question that she asked about the meaning of “in a timely manner”, I fear I cannot go much...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords for their welcome for these amendments. I note the comments of the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Whitchurch, in particular. On the specific question that she asked about the meaning of “in a timely manner”, I fear I cannot go much...

Moved by

Earl Howe

2: Clause 157, page 183, line 23, at end insert “(including, amongst other things, chalk streams)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment fulfils an undertaking made at Report stage and clarifies that the definition of “natural environment” includes chalk streams.

Moved by

Earl Howe

2: Clause 157, page 183, line 23, at end insert “(including, amongst other things, chalk streams)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment fulfils an undertaking made at Report stage and clarifies that the definition of “natural environment” includes chalk streams.

Moved by

Earl Howe

3: Clause 173, page 206, line 9, at end insert—

“(iv) where a direction relating to the plant and the related nutrient pollution standard is made or revoked under regulation 85C or 110B of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1012) (disapplication of assumption that the...

Moved by

Earl Howe

3: Clause 173, page 206, line 9, at end insert—

“(iv) where a direction relating to the plant and the related nutrient pollution standard is made or revoked under regulation 85C or 110B of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1012) (disapplication of assumption that the...

Moved by

Earl Howe

4: Clause 174, page 211, line 4, leave out from the first “to” to end of line 6 and insert “require certain assumptions to be made in certain circumstances about nutrient pollution standards (see section 173).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment reinstates the wording in Clause 174 introducing Schedule 16,...

Moved by

Earl Howe

4: Clause 174, page 211, line 4, leave out from the first “to” to end of line 6 and insert “require certain assumptions to be made in certain circumstances about nutrient pollution standards (see section 173).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment reinstates the wording in Clause 174 introducing Schedule 16,...

Moved by

Earl Howe

5: Clause 253, page 295, line 30, leave out from “that” to “and” in line 31 and insert “is an ineligible council (whether or not that council was an ineligible council at the time the opt-out notice was given)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment amends Clause 253 (road user charging...

Moved by

Earl Howe

5: Clause 253, page 295, line 30, leave out from “that” to “and” in line 31 and insert “is an ineligible council (whether or not that council was an ineligible council at the time the opt-out notice was given)”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment amends Clause 253 (road user charging...

Moved by

Earl Howe

9: After Clause 253, insert the following new Clause—

“Protected landscapes

(1) The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).

(2) In section 4A (application of Part 2 of Act to Wales), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) Subsection (1) does not...

Moved by

Earl Howe

9: After Clause 253, insert the following new Clause—

“Protected landscapes

(1) The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).

(2) In section 4A (application of Part 2 of Act to Wales), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) Subsection (1) does not...